Our “Drum” project has officially been launched!

Project name Development of a Rural Model for Integrated Shared Care in First Nation and Métis Communities (DRUM-ISCFNMC)

Background The Aboriginal Community Resilience to HIV/AIDS and other Blood Borne Diseases (ACRA – 2005 to 2012) was conducted in partnership with Community Information and Epidemiological Technologies (CIETcanada), Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network (CAAN), Alberta Treaty 8 First Nations and the University of Alberta HIV clinicians. In total, 17 communities were involved; three advanced to the intervention phase: Tallcree, Sucker Creek and Drift Pile First Nations. A shared care agreement was created in partnership with the University of Alberta Infectious Disease clinicians and these three communities.

Objective This project builds on the HIV Shared Care Model (SCM) developed through the ACRA project to include HCV, STBBIs and mental health. In partnership with the University of Victoria, Driftpile Cree Nation, Sucker Creek First Nation and Tallcree First Nation, we will be working with community members, an APHA Advisor, Elder, clinicians and academics to design a Shared Care Model that can be used by people on-reserve living with and affected by/at risk of acquiring HIV. They will be able to access services from a team of professionals at home instead of having to travel long distances to urban centres.

Process Component 1: The SCM expanded model will be developed, tested and evaluated in these three partnering First Nation communities in Alberta. A key part of this component will be identifying further evidence-based community interventions to be incorporated into the shared care process. It is expected that support for individuals, families and the community overall will be maximized in this way.

Following the successful completion of this project in March 2018, there will be a opportunity to apply for funding to do Component 2: roll-out and study the implementation of the program in additional First Nations communities!

Stay tuned for more updates in upcoming newsletters. For more information please contact Carrie Lund at carriel@caan.ca or 780-450-1711.